In the United States, we drive on the right side of the road. In Singapore, cars drive on the left. Mexico, meanwhile, has its own road signs and speed limits, which sometimes are viewed as suggestions.
To drive safely and legally in another country, you need to follow their rules and customs — not yours. The same goes for practicing law or doing business with professionals outside the United States: You must follow the legal “road rules” of the local jurisdiction. To accomplish this, it is imperative you have strong relationships and contacts in the local jurisdiction to show you the rules of the road.
Cross-border collaboration requires an understanding and respect for local jurisdictions — the laws, regulations and governing authorities of a geographic region. If U.S. law firms and businesses want to work successfully with professional partners in another country, they must follow that country’s specific laws, respect local customs and understand how things get done on the ground. Failing to do so can lead to legal trouble, business inefficiencies or a loss of trust with partners and clients.
Through years of working alongside local business leaders and foreign government officials, Hone Maxwell’s international tax and business attorneys recognize that local jurisdiction requires compliance — but success hinges on building strong, sustainable relationships rooted in trust and respect. This is done by acknowledging that the rules (both written and unwritten) may differ from what you’re used to at home and adhering to them.
Here’s how the HMLLP team creates and maintains those partnerships in foreign local jurisdictions.
Five Best Practices for Working with Foreign Local Jurisdictions
- Understand the Local Law and Regulatory Environments: Whether assisting a foreign client with U.S. tax reporting compliance or managing a joint venture, the ability to navigate a country’s business and cultural environment can make or break the venture’s outcome. Of course, local professionals must be engaged, however, it is through experience to know which local professionals are needed.
For example, working with a business in Singapore means considering the local tax regime, privacy laws like the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and cultural expectations around formality and punctuality. In Mexico, the importance of personal relationships, local licensure rules and navigating both federal and state-level bureaucracy all come into play.
Consulting or partnering with local licensed attorneys and professionals helps to ensure legal compliance. Keeping abreast of local legislative changes that could impact your clients or operations is another way to maintain understanding of a local jurisdiction.
- Use Culturally Sensitive Communication: Legal and business expertise isn’t enough if it’s lost in translation — literally or figuratively. Miscommunication can result in delays, confusion or damaged relationships. That’s why it’s critical to work with bilingual, bicultural professionals who can interpret not just the language, but also the intent behind it. Further, this allows us to collaborate with the best professionals to assist our clients regardless of language or location.
Cultural awareness goes hand-in-hand with communication. For example, business discussions in Mexico might begin with casual conversation to establish rapport, while a client in Singapore may expect a more structured, data-driven presentation from the get-go. Adapting your style shows cultural respect and helps foster trust from the outset.
- Align Compliance Across Borders: Cross-border transactions often come with complex tax and regulatory implications. A U.S. business working in Mexico may face local reporting requirements in addition to U.S. tax obligations. Similarly, a Singapore-based investor might be subject to both local and U.S. tax disclosure rules, such as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
Coordinating these details with local professionals ensures clients remain compliant on both fronts. Ignoring these nuances could result in costly penalties or unanticipated liabilities.
For example, the Mexican tax rate is often higher than the U.S. Therefore, any valuable cross-border tax planning must place high importance on the guidance from Mexican professionals on the Mexican taxes.
- Handle Contracts and Data with Care: Legal documents must be clear on which country’s laws apply and how disputes will be resolved. As a good risk management practice, contracts should specify:
- Governing law and jurisdiction
- Dispute resolution procedures
- Localized terms that reflect enforceability in each country
Beyond contracts, cross-border work often involves handling sensitive data. Countries like Singapore and Mexico have strict data privacy laws, and transferring information internationally may require special security protocols.
It’s also important to know where your legal authority ends. For instance, practicing law in another country without the proper credentials may breach local regulations or ethical guidelines. Maintaining clearly defined roles — and involving appropriately licensed professionals when needed — helps protect your firm’s integrity and your client’s interests.
- Create Relationships that Go the Distance: Global partnerships thrive on relationships. Treating local attorneys and professionals as true collaborators — not just outside consultants — builds loyalty and improves service quality. These relationships also help you respond faster and more strategically to client needs.
You can build strong relationships with professionals in foreign local jurisdictions by:
- Respecting time zones and being flexible with scheduling
- Tailoring services and communications to local needs
- Investing in multilingual marketing and client materials
- Offering educational webinars or content specific to each region
Working with partners and clients across borders offers tremendous value, but it demands a thoughtful, respectful approach of local jurisdictions. By embracing best practices and truly understanding the jurisdictions you work in, you’re doing more than checking boxes — you’re building bridges that allow your firm to grow internationally, serve clients more holistically and stand out as a trusted advisor in a complex global landscape.
HMLLP’s team of international tax and business law attorneys understand these best practices and live them every day. With years of in-person experience working with clients and partners throughout Latin America and Asia, we’ve built a practice grounded in cross-border collaboration, cultural fluency and deep legal insight.
Whether navigating complex international tax issues, structuring cross-border business entities or guiding foreign clients through U.S. legal processes, our team knows how to deliver results that respect and align with the unique requirements of each local jurisdiction. This isn’t just a theory — it’s our actual practice, built on trust, relationships and a true global perspective.
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